Meet Joe Cross Juice Guru

Joe Cross juice guru? 10 years ago Joe Cross didn’t do juicing. He weighed 22 stone. His diet: daily doses of pizza, doughnuts and chips. He suffered from a debilitating autoimmune condition. Joe was a heavy smoker. He drank frequently and relied on strong medication to keep his chronic urticaria in check. Doctors told him that he would die early. He was fat, sick and nearly dead.

Having tried all sorts of fad diets and scores of prescription medication Joe was fed up. He was convinced that his eating habits had caused, or at the very least contributed, towards his illness. He desperately wanted to get off the medication and change his life.

Joe came to a dramatic decision. He would reboot his body. For 60 days he would consume nothing but fruit and vegetable juice.

His two month juice fast would see him lose over 100 pounds and lessen to nothing his chronic urticaria symptoms. Joe filmed his journey in the multi-award winning documentary: Fat Sick & Nearly Dead.

Fast forward to 2015 and Joe is now a New York Times bestselling author, and last year released the much-hyped documentary sequel: Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead 2. Known as the Juicing Guru, Joe has inspired thousands across the globe to try juicing and adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Today the Domu team sit down with Joe to find out why we should all be juicing, and what changes it’s brought to this Australian entrepreneur’s life.

Can you tell us just how juicing can benefit someone’s life?

I reckon I could go on and on about the benefits of juicing, but here are a few: increase in energy levels, lower risk of life-threatening diseases, decrease in aches and pains in joints and muscles, a major boost your immune system and better sleep. It can also help you adopt healthier eating patterns by really illustrating the benefits of plant food. After a few days on my first Reboot, even I – the former king of processed food – started to crave green juice!

At what point did you know juicing was the right path for you?

When I first started juicing I was 100 pounds overweight, pumped full of medication and suffered from a debilitating autoimmune disease. And because I’m an all-or-nothing sort of bloke, juicing seemed like a good and fast way to test my theory that perhaps Mother Nature could help me heal. The first three days were pretty bad, but by day four I started feeling better than I had in almost 15 years. And then I was hooked!

With juice fasting, there’s usually an initial period when juicing doesn’t feel so great. Why is this and what advice do you have for new juicers to get through this period?

I certainly experienced this feeling of lethargy, anxiousness and pain during the first few days of a Reboot. Let me tell you, it is not fun. It’s due to our bodies processing and eliminating the processed foods, sugary stuff, alcohol and the like in our systems. They are basically withdrawal symptoms, but the good news is that they really only last for 2-3 days. The best way to move past this is to understand that it will only last a short time and soon enough you will feel more energetic than before.

For new juicers, what’s the one best tip you could give them?

Prepare for your Reboot by cultivating a community that will support you. It doesn’t matter if it is family, friends, co-workers or a pal you meet online. We’ve seen amazing results at rebootwithjoe.com when people connect to support each other – the satisfaction and success skyrocket. And also, get a plan! We offer free juicing plus eating plans on my site. The plan will help you stick to your goals and kick-start your new healthy lifestyle.

Alongside the weight loss, and international fame, how has your life changed since you starting juicing?

It allowed me to manage my autoimmune disease without the use of prescription drugs. This was one of the main reasons I decided to embark on my first Reboot, and since then, I have managed to live a more balanced and healthier life.

I’ve also channeled my business experience and acumen into a company devoted to sharing information about wellness with the biggest audience possible. Being connected to a larger purpose than just profit – hearing the stories of Rebooters around the world every day – has made me a happier person for sure.

What’s one of your favourite juicing recipes?

My absolute favorite juice is the Mean Green. It’s great for boosting you immune system and keeping your whole body clean, healthy and happy.

How do you incorporate juicing into your diet? Do you have one juice a day? More?

I typically have 1-2 juices a day and they are usually green. I really try to stick with the ration we recommend at Reboot of 80% veg/20% fruit to ensure that I manage the amount of sugar I have in my diet. Sometimes, I will add in another juice or a smoothie in place of lunch. And 2-3 times a year I do a full-on Reboot for a week or two to reset the system!

What’s your morning routine?

Well, my mornings can vary greatly because I travel a great deal. I’m constantly adjusting to new time zones. However, I try to stay in hotels that make being healthy easy, either by offering juices and plant food on their menus or because of their proximity to places where I can get a Mean Green or a large salad.

Every morning, I make an effort to get my day started with a juice or a smoothie, take at least a short walk outside to get some fresh air and light, and stretch. Then, like everyone else, I dive into my emails!

Are there any fruits and vegetables you wouldn’t recommend for juicing?

Well, there are certainly things like bananas, mushrooms, avocados and the like with are for smoothies and not for juices. But generally, everything is good. The best thing is to pick fruits and vegetables that you like, and keep trying combinations until you find things that are delicious to you.

Aside from juicing, what’s your best life tip/piece of advice?

Respect yourself.

I wrote about this in my most recent book, Reboot with Joe: Fully Charged. In Fully Charged I share the 7 keys that help me to stay healthy in an unhealthy world – respecting yourself is on that list. Almost all of us are harsher on ourselves than we would ever be on a loved one, but nothing good can come from constantly beating ourselves down. Next time you make a mistake, instead of criticizing yourself, just stop and acknowledge it and do something to change it. Forgiveness is key.